Who are the best con artists in film and/or literature?

[jobycom]

I've spent all day feeling like I was playing a shell game with a long-time customer. Every time you have him trapped, he comes up with a story just plausible enough to make you wonder. I kept thinking, "If I could capture this guy on film as a character..."

Who are the best con artists? They can be the professional cons, like in "The Sting," or the instinctive on-the-spot artists, like James Belushi in "Made Men."

[mitchum]

1. "Moses was but a juggler" according to Christopher Marlowe

My vote goes for the Duke and the Dauphin in Huckleberry Finn

[jobycom]

10. Oh yeah, forgot about them. I always thought Twain was picking on himself, a little.

They were like the dark side of Tom Sawyer, all grown up. Sorry, growed up.

[MrCoffee]

2. Keyser Soze

[AllenVanAllen]

20. That you did not know you stole from him

is the only reason you are still alive...

[Duer 157099]

3. The ones in House of Cards (or was it House of Games?)

or was it Games of Cards?

:shrug:

But that film. With those guys. Joe Montagna et al

[TZ]

4. Leonardo Di Caprio's character in "Catch me if you can"

Based on a real life con artist too...

[mzteris]

5. No Way Out

with Kevin Costner.

[jobycom]

11. I'm still trying to figure out that ending.

Maybe three or four movies have ever caught me that off guard.

[no name no slogan]

23. And one of maybe two where Costner actually ACTS worth a damn

:thumbsup:

[mzteris]

26. what did you think of

Mr. Brooks?

[jobycom]

27. Kostner's acting isn't the problem.

He's a good actor. His problem is his script choice, lately. I'm one of the few who actually liked The Postman and I didn't really dislike Waterworld. Since then I haven't even bothered remembering the titles when I've seen films he was in.

Funny, this is the second DU conversation about a Kostner film I've had today. The other was more about Danny Gans, though.

[Kat45]

30. Yeah, that ending blew me away, twice!

That doesn't happen too often.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Mose and Addy Pray on "Paper Moon."

Bible Salesmen??

[MrScorpio]

7. Harold Hill

Say, did you hear that there was trouble in River City?

[whistler162]

8. Nah.... Centauri was better!

;)

[Bennyboy]

9. Johnny Hooker and Henry Gondorff!

[pokerfan]

22. "Luther said I could learn some things from you. I already know how to drink. "

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xjRJ4noK6I">The Poker Game

"What was I supposed to do? Call him for cheating better than me, in front of the others?"

[timtom]

29. Great selection of quotes!!

[leeroysphitz]

12. Wachowski brothers.

[jobycom]

16. Lately they've been more interesting than their movies. nt

[pokerfan]

13. Most amusing

[jobycom]

17. Racer X? Or some other random red x?

[pokerfan]

25. Fixed

Damn bandwidth nazis.

[jobycom]

28. Stealing bandwidth. Ooooo.

Where's Adam Walsh when you need him?

One day I have to watch that film. When it came out I was in an anti-Steve Martin mood, so I never saw it.

[no name no slogan]

14. Henry Kissinger

that guy is a lying sack of shit to the highest degree. There's a reason he can't leave the US anymore-- if he goes anywhere else, he'll be arrested for crimes against humanity.

[jobycom]

19. This post belongs in GD!

Kissinger is not good enough to be fictional. He's just boring old evil.

[no name no slogan]

21. You didn't say fictional

You said con artist in film and/or literature. He's been in both. He's even written books.

And he is pure evil.

[jobycom]

24. He's written fiction?

I mean, that he wasn't passing off as fact?

[rucky]

15. Ruprecht the Monkey Boy

[Bertha Venation]

18. John Cusack's character, Roy, in "The Grifters"

the short con